Automatic web register correcting means for printing presses



J. E. MEYER June 12, 1945.

AUTOMATIC WEB REGISTER CORRECTING MEANS FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed April 2, 1943 s Sheets-Sheet 1 J. E. MEYER 2,378,234

AUTOMATIC WEB REGISTER CORRECTING MEANS FOR PRINTING PRESSES June 12, 1945.

Filed April 2, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

June 12, 1945. MEYER 2,378,234

AUTOMATIC WEB REGISTER CORRECTING MEANS FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed April 2, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

' duction.

Patented June12, 1945 AUTOMATIC WEB REGISTERCORRECTING MEANS FOR PRINTING PRESSES Joseph E. Meyer, Westerly, R. L, assignor to C. B. Cottrell & Sons Company, Westerly, R. 1., a

corporation of Delaware Application April 2, 1943, Serial No. 431,528

22 Claims. (01. 101-225) In rotary web perfecting printing presses in which quick drying inks and drying units are employed, the web lead between the first and second printing units is necessarily long and the traveling web develops a tendency to shift laterally in the one or the other direction before it reaches the second printing unit with the result that the printingv on the second side of the web will be out of line with the printing on the first side of the web. This tendency of the traveling web to shift laterally is exaggerated when the first side printing isheavy along one side of the web and light along the other side. y

In rotary web perfecting printing presses where the first and second printing units are located in line with the. press this tendency of .the web to shift laterally has heretofore been corrected by manually tilting one of the web feed rolls. This method is unsatisfactory as the tilting of the web feed. roll puts an excess strain along one edge of the web tending to break the vweb and thus causing a loss of paper and production. This method is also unsatisfactory in that the defect in the printing is not detected until the product has been printed on theother side, folded and delivered. It is necessary, therefore,'to run considerable waste or defective. product before the trouble can be found and corrected.

The object of my invention is to provide means controlled by the lateral shifting of. thewebsfor automatically correcting its loss of lateral register as it passes from the first printing unit, to

the second printing unit, thereby preventing great waste of paper and loss of time and pro- A further object is toprovide means for automatically and simultaneously correcting loss of longitudinal register of the traveling web due to the correction for lateral register.

A further object is to provide manually operated means acting on the web for initially bringing the first side printed web into approximately correct register with the secondor perfecting printing unit to permit the proper functioning of the automatic web register correcting means.

A praotical'embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings in which I Fig. 1 represents a diagrammatic top plan view of my invention incorporated in a multicolor rotary web perfecting printing press adapted for use with quick drying inks and drying apparatus;

Fig. 2 represents a side View of the same;

' Fig. 3 represents a detail top plan View on an enlarged scale of the first web turning bar and its adjacent parts; i

Fig. 4 represents a section taken in the plane of the line IV--IV of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 represents a section takeninthe plane of the line V-V of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. Grepresents a detail top plan view on the same scale as Fig. 3, of the second turning bar and the web reversing roller and their operative connections;

Fig.7 represents a detail side view of the same; Fig. 8 represents a section taken in the plane of the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

r Fig. 9 represents a section taken in the plane of the line IXIX of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. '10 represents a diagrammatic view of a photoelectric unit which is controlled by the lat-' eral shifting of the traveling web to control the not shown herein. These first and second printing units and their dryingapparatuses are arranged in line with the press, the first printing unit being shown as comprising an impression .cylinderP and its several form cylinders p; and the second or web perfecting printing unit as comprising an impression cylinder P' and its several form cylinders 12'. v

' The first drying apparatus is shown as comprising a heating drum D and its web cooling cylinders d; and the'second drying apparatus as comprising a heating drum D and the web cooling cylinders d. v

The means controlled by the lateral shifting ofthe web for automatically correcting the loss of. register of the web as it passes from the first printing unit to the second printing unit is constructed, arranged and operated as follows:

The web register correcting unit is shown as comprising'first and second web turning bars, I

and 2 and their coacting web reversing roller 3. I

The first turning bar directs the web W as it comes from the first printing unit, outwardly at right angles to the press to and around the roller 3, which roller reverses the travel of the web and directs it inwardly at right angles to the press, to and around the second turning bar 2 which directs the web back into line with the press before the web reaches the second printing unit.

As the web leaves the second turning bar 2 it passes over the scanning roller 4 which coacts with the scanning head 5 and the source of light 5' of the photoelectric unit 6, which unit may be of any well known or approved construction. The peripheral surface of this scanning roller 4 may be made non-light reflecting to contrast it with the light reflecting surface of the web, to ensure the energization of the photoelectric unit when the web shifts laterally in either direction from its true path on its way to the second printing unit, as will be hereinafter more fully set. forth.

The scanning head 5 has two internal divisions denoted by A and A in Fig. 10; the division A being sensitive to light reflected from the Web W when it shifts to the left of its median position; and the division A being sensitive to absorption of light by the dark surface of the roller 4, when the web W shifts to the right of its median position.

The normally deenergized reversible electric motor M is operatively connected to both ends of one of the web turning bars, in the present instance the second turning bar 2, for automatically correcting loss of lateral register of the web. This motor M is also operatively connected to the web reversing roller 3 for automatically correcting -loss of longitudinal or circumferential register caused by the correction of the loss of lateral register of the web.

The motor shaft m is operatively connected to the. cross shaft 1 through a worm and gear8 and 5. This-shaft I is mounted in the side frames F, F and it is operatively connected through the spiralge'ars 10, II and II to the longitudinally disposed shafts I2, l2. The shaft I2 is threaded into an adjustable sleeve 13 having-a threaded .connection with a block 14 slidably mounted in a suitably supported fixed bracket l5. A lock nut l6 serves to lock the sleeve l3 to its block M. The longitudinal shaft I2 is directly threaded into its block N which is slidable in the fixed bracket l.

The opposite ends of the turning bar 2 are adiustably secured by bolts I], ll to their respective slidable blocks l4, I4.

The ,cross shaft 1. is operatively connected through thespur gears 18 and ill to the cross shaft 20, which cross shaft is connected through the gears 2|, 22 to the longitudinally disposed shaft 23. This shaft 23 is operatively connected through the two pairs of spiral gears 24, 25 and 24f, 25' to the crossshafts 26, 26 which are rotatably mounted in suitably supported fixed brackets 21, 21 and are threaded into end bearings 28, 28' for the shaft 3* of the web reversing roller. 3. These bearings 28, 28 are slidable in the suitably supported fixed brackets 29, 29'.

The web turning bars I and 2and their c0- acting web reversing roller 3 may be initially adjusted to bring them into approximate register, within the range of operation of the web register controlled means for automatically correcting the loss of register of the web, as follows:

,,The first webturning bar I has its ends adjustably secured by bolts 30, 30' .to blocks 3|, 3! slidable in suitably supported fixed brackets 32, ,3 2';. screwshafts 33, 33 are rotatably mounted in suitably supported ,fixedbrackets .34, .34 and second web turning bar 2 may be accomplished by releasing the lock nut 16, turning the adjusting sleeve [3 in its block l4 and then tightening the'lock nut E6 to secure the sleeve in its adjusted position.

f In operation: as long is the traveling web remains in its correct side register all of the. parts of the automatic side register control will be inoperative. Should this side register be lost by the lateral shifting of the web in either direction this loss of register is immediately corrected as follows:

If this shifting of the web be to the division A of the scanning head 5 the photoelectric unit is actuated by the reflection of light from the surface of the traveling web and thecircuit passes through the battery B and the holding coil C to close the relay D. This will close the armature and field circuits of the motor M, causing it to rotate in the direction to automatically adjust the scanning web turning bar .2 and the roller 3 for bringing the web back into proper register. When the web returns to its correct register the scanning head 5 operates to open the circuit A, B, C and thereby demagnetizes the holding coil C of the relay D. This opens the armature and field circuits and stops the motor.

When the web shifts to the division A the scanning head 5 is actuated by the absorption of light from the dark peripheral surface of the scanning roller 4. The circuit A, B, C is then closed, operating the relay D which closes the armature and field circuits of the motor M and causes the motor to rotate in th opposite direction to automatically adjust the second turning bar 2 and its coacting roller 3 simultaneously for bringing the web' back into its proper register with respect to the second printing unit. When the web returns to its correctregister the scanning head 5 operates to open the circuit A, BC, thereby: demagnetizing the holding coil C of the relay D. This will open the armature and field circuits and thus stop the motor.

.Itwill be observed that the motor field leads from the relay D are reversed, relative to polari ity, to those from the relay D, but the armature leads are not reversed. This provides a condition which causes the motor to revolve clockwise when started by one relay. and anti-clockwise when started by the other relay. It will thus be seen that theother turning bar and its coacting roller may be moved in one direction or the other automatically, to correct the lateral shiftingof the Web in either direction out of its true side register.

While I have shown. one of the turning bars, in the present instance the second turning bar 2, as automatically adjustable lengthwise of the press,,it is obvious that one of the turning bars, as for instance the second turning bar 2, may equally well be automatically adjustable crosswise of the press, .to accomplish the correction for loss of side register of, the web.

It is evident that various changes may be. resorted to in the construction, form and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit. and scope. of my ,irnzention,and hence I do not intend to be limited to the particular embodiment herein shown and described, but

What I claim is:

'1. In a rotary web perfecting printing press,

first and second printing units arranged in line with the press, means for passing the web through said printing units, and a web register correcting unit controlled by the lateral shifting of the web, and including means for automatically correcting the loss of lateral register of the web and for automatically and simultaneously correcting the loss of longitudinal register of the web .due to its correction for loss of lateral register, as the web passes from the first printing unit to the second printing unit.

2. In a rotary web perfecting printing press, first and second printing units arranged in line with the press, means for passing the web through said printing units, and an electrically operated web register correcting unit. controlled by the lateralshifting of the web, and including means first and second printing units arranged in line for automatically correcting the loss of lateral register-of the web and for automatically and simultaneously correcting the loss of longitudinal register of the web due to its correction for loss of lateral register, as the web passes from the first printing unit to the second printing unit.

3. In a rotary web perfecting printing press, first and second printing units arranged in line with the press, means for passing the web through said printing units, and a web register correcting unit controlled by the lateral shifting of the web, for automatically correcting the loss.of.lateral register of the web and for automatically and simultaneously correcting the loss of longitudinal register of the web due to its correction for loss of lateral register, as the web passes from the first printing unit to the second printing unit, the said web register correcting unit including two diagonal turning bars and their co-acting web reversing roller, one of said bars andsaid roller being automatically adjustable simultaneously.

4. In a rotary web perfecting printing press, first and second printing units arranged in line with the press, means for passing the web through said printing units, and an electrically operated web registering correcting unit controlled by the lateral shifting of the web, for automatically correcting the loss of lateral register of the web and for automatically and simultaneously correcting the loss of longitudinal register of theweb due to its correction for loss of lateral register, as the web passes from the first printing unit to the second printing unit, the said web register correctin unit including two diagonal turning bars and their coacting web reversing roller, one of said bars and said roller being automatically adjustable simultaneously.

5. In a rotary web perfecting printing press, first and second printing units arranged in line with the press, means for passing the web through said printing units, and a web register correcting unit controlled by the lateral shifting of the web, for automatically correcting the loss of lateral register of the web and for automatically and simultaneously correcting the loss of longitudinal register of the web due to its correction for loss of lateral register, as the web passes from the first printing unit to the second printing unit, the said web register correcting unit including :two diagonal turning bars and their coacting web reversing roller, and a reversible motor for automatically adjusting one of the turning bars and the rollersimultaneously. i

6. In a rotary web perfecting printing-press,

recting the loss of lateral registerof the web and for automatically and simultaneously correcting the loss of longitudinal register of the web due toits correction for loss of lateral register, as the web passes from the first printing unit to the second printing unit, the said last named meansineluding two diagonal turning bars and their coacting web reversing roller, and a reversible motor for automatically adjusting one of the turning bars and the roller simultaneously.

"7. In a rotary web perfecting printing press, first and second printing units arranged in line with the press, means for passing the web through said printing units, and a web register correcting unit controlled by the lateral shifting of the web, for automatically. correcting the loss of lateral register of the-web and for automatically and simultaneously correcting the loss of longitudinal register of the web'due to its correction for'loss of lateral register, as the web passes from the firstprinting unit to the second printing unit, the

said web register correcting unit including two diagonal turning bars and their coacting web reversing ro1ler,,a photoelectric unit and a motor set in motion thereby, said motor being operatively connected to both ends of one. of said turning bars and to both ends of the roller for simultaneously adjusting them.

8.-In a rotary web perfecting printing press, first and second printing units arranged in line with the press, means for passing the web through said printing un'its,and a web register correcting uni-t controlled by the lateral shifting ofthe web, for automatically correcting the loss of lateral register of the web and for automatically and simultaneously correcting the loss of longitudinal register of the web due to its correction for loss of lateral register, as the web passes from the first printing unit to the second printing unit, the said web register correcting unit including two diagonal turningbars and their coactingweb reversing roller, a photoelectric unit and a motor set in operation thereby for automatically adjustin-g bothends of one of said turning bars and'both ends of the roller simultaneously.

9. In a rotary web perfecting printing press, first and second printing units arranged in line with the press, a web register correcting unit comprising first .and second diagonal turning bars and'their-coa'cting web reversing roller, means for passing the web through the first printing unit, around the first turning bar, the roller, the second turning bar and through the second printing unit, and means controlled by the lateral shifting of the web for automatically and si-- multaneously adjusting both ends of one of the turning bars without changing its angularity to correct the loss of lateralregister of the web. v

10.. In a rotary web perfecting printing press, first and second printing units arranged in line with the press, a web register correcting unit comprising first and second diagonal turning bars and their intermediate web reversing roller, means for passing the web through the first printing unit, around the first turning bar, the roller, the second turning bar and through the second printing unit, and means controlled by the lateral shifting-of the web for automatically adjusting both ends of one of the turning bars to correct the loss of lateral registerof the web and for automatically and simultaneously adjusting both endsof the roller to correct the loss of longitudinal register of the web due to its correction for lateral register. 7

211. In. a rotary .web perfecting printing press, first and second printing units arranged in line with the press, a web register correcting unit comprising first and second diagonal turning bars and their intermediate web reversing roller, means for passing the web through the first printing unit, around the first turning bar, the roller, the second running bar, and through the second printing unit, and means controlled by the lateral shifting of the web for automatically adjusting both ends of the second turning bar to correct the loss of lateral register of 'the web and for automatically and simultaneously ad- .justing the roller to correct the loss of longitudinal register of the web due to its correction for lateral register.

12. In a rotary web perfecting printing press, first and second printing units arranged in line with the press, a web register correcting, unit comprising first and second diagonal turning bars and their intermediate web reversing roller, means for passing the web through the first printing unit, around the first turning bar, the roller, the second turning bar and through the second printing unit, a photoelectric unit controlled by the lateral shifting of the web, and a motor controlled by the photoelectric unit and operatively connected to both ends of one of the turning bars to automatically adjust the said turning bar without changing its angularity for correcting the loss of lateral register of the web.

13. In a rotary web periectingprinting press, first and second printing units arranged in line with the press, a web register correcting unit comprising first and second diagonal turning bars and their intermediate web reversing roller, means for passing the web through the first printing unit around the first turning bar, the

roller, the second turning bar and through the second printing unit, a photoelectric unit controlled by the lateral shifting of the web, and a reversible motor controlled by the photoelectric unit and operatively connected to both ends of one of the turning bars to automatically adjust the said turning bar without changing its angularity for correcting the loss of lateral register of the web in either direction.

14. In a rotary Web perfecting printing press, first and second printing units arranged in line with the press, a web register correcting unit first and second diagonal turning'bars and their intermediate web reversing roller, means for passing the web through the first printing unit, around the first turning bar, the roller, the second turning bar and through the second printing 'unit, a photoelectric unit controlled by the lateral shifting of the web, and a motor controlled by the photoelectric unit and operatively connected to both ends of one of the turning bars and the roller, to automatically adjust the said turning bar and the roller for correcting the loss of lateral and the consequent loss oflongitudinal register of the web.

15. In arotary web perfecting printing press, first and second printing units arranged in line with the press, a web register correcting unit comprising first and second diagonal turning bars and their intermediate web reversing roller, means for passing the web through the first printing unit, around the first turning bar, the roller, the second turning bar and through the second printing unit, a photoelectric unit controlled by the lateral shifting of the web, and a reversible motor controlled by the photoelectric unit and operatively connected to both ends of one of the turning bars and the roller to automatically adjust the said turning bar and the roller for 00!! recting the loss of lateral and the consequent loss of longitudinal register of the web. a

16. In a rotary web perfecting printing press, first and second printing units arranged in line with the press, a web register correctingunit comprising first and second diagonal turning bars and their intermediate web reversing roller, means for passing the web through thefirst l'i. In a rotary web perfecting printing press,

first and secand printing units arranged inline with the press, a web register correcting unit comprising first and second diagonal turning bars and their intermediate Web reversing roller, means for passing the web through the first printing unit, around the first turning bar, the roller, the second turning bar and through the second printing unit, a photoelectric unit controlled by the lateral shifting of the web, and a reversible motor controlled by the photoelectric unit and operatively connected to both ends of the second turning bar and roller to automatically adjust the said turning bar and the roller for correcting the loss of lateral and the consequent loss oi longitudinal register of the web. l

18. In a rotary web perfecting printing press, first and second printing units arranged in line with the press, a web register correcting unit comprising first and second diagonal turning bars and their intermediate web reversing roller, means for passing the web through the first printing unit, around the first turning bar, the roller, the second turning bar and through the second printing unit, manually operated means for initially adjusting the turning bars and roller, and means controlled by the lateral shifting of the web for automatically adjusting both'ends of one of the turning bars to correct the loss of lateral register of the web. I

19. In a rotary web perfecting printing press, first and second printing units arranged in line with the press, a web register correcting unit comprising first and second diagonal turning bars and their intermediate web reversing roller, means for passing the web through the first printing unit, around the first turning bar, the roller, the second turning bar and through the second printing unit, manually operated means for initially adjusting the turning bars and roller, and means controlled by the lateral shifting of the web for automatically adjusting both ends of the second turning bar to correct the loss of lateral register of the web.

one of the turning bars and the roller to correct the loss of lateral and the consequent loss of longitudinal register of the web.

21. In' a, rotary web perfecting printing press, first and second printing units arranged in line with the press, a, web register correcting unit comprising first and second diagonal turning bars and their intermediate web reversing roller, means for passing the web through the first printing unit, around the first turning bar, the

roller, the second turning bar and through the second printing unit, manually operated means for initially adjusting the turning bars and roller,

- and means controlled by the lateral shifting of the web for automatically adjusting both ends of the second turning bar and the roller to correct the loss of lateral and the consequent loss of longitudinalregister of the web.

22. In a rotary web perfecting web printing press, first and second printing units arranged in line with the press, means for passing the web through said printing units, and a web register correcting unit controlled by the lateral shifting of the web for automatically and simultaneously correcting the loss of lateral and the consequent loss of longitudinal register of the web as it'passes from the first printing unit to the second printing unit, the web register correcting unit including two diagonal turning bars, their coacting web reversing roller,'a scanning roller, a photoelectric by the photoelectric unit, said motor being operatively connected to both ends of one of said turning bars and to their coacting roller for simultaneously adjusting them.

JOSEPH E. MEYER. 

